24 May, 2011

The choices of high quality quill stems has been getting a little thin these past few years. We received three new models today. More choice is good?

The Grand Cru Stem

It may look like a $450 fillet brazed stem from a custom frame builder, but the Grand Cru stems are actually made using a custom one piece steel quill and extension. The clamp is welded onto the extension and the weld is hand filed smooth on top. This results in a strong, yet relatively light, stem with a classic shape. This stem took a tremendous amount of time and energy to develop, but I think it was worth the effort.

Here is a less expensive chrome stem with positive rise. The VO Quill Stem is a smooth welded chrome plated 1" quill stem. It has a 17-degree positive rise.

Total quill length is 190mm or 120mm above the min. insert line. (Interestingly, it will get your bars as high as a Technomic stem, yet it weighs a little less.) 26mm clamp. Alloy wedge. Weight is 367g for the 100mm size.

The Grand Compe ENE Stem

The ENE traditional alloy quill stem is another high quality addition Dia Compe's growing line of ENE classic components. It's nicely polished and displays small logos. A good choice for those who like an alloy stem, but don't need the extra quill length and extra weight of a Technomic. They are currently only made in 80mm amd 100mm extensions, but we will stock more sizes as they become available.

David, Actually we make more stuff that's stainless steel than chrome plated. A lot of people love classic chrome stems, so much so that frame builders often charge $400-$600 for them. They don't pit or rust unless you get salt on them and don't clean them.

For what it's worth, if we had made these in alloy they would have cost twice as much because of the tooling costs.

eflayer, We did test them and they work with drop bars. Plus, you can spread the clamp for bars with really tight bends without damaging the clamp (unlike alloy stems which can crack when spread).

for me, here's the main question: is the extension measured like Nittos, which tend to measure c to c along the side centerline of the extension, or along the top of the extension, the way most other quill stems are measured. This is important because if you're used to a 10cm Cinelli, and then get a Nitto Pearl that says Pearl 10 on the side, you'll find the Pearl is actually 7 mm longer than the Cinelli. So I was just wondering if you could get out your reading glasses and ruler, and tell us how these are sized.

I would be interested in a 1 1/8" x 25.4 x 90 degree threadless stem in chrome-plated steel without removable faceplate, and I think there might be a market for such a thing. Aluminum threadless stems look too bulky on steel frames with classic proportions.

a little surprised not to see a threaded bung for a bell? any chance we might see that in the future or possible an integrated cable stop? anyways, cheers for gracing us with another high quality classy part for that thing we hold near and dear called our bicycle.

i just purchased the grand cru stem. here is my constructive criticism... stem clamp area needs to be completely smooth! especially along the edges were the binder bolt threads. on my first attempt i laid down a few milometer scratches on my new shiny b-136 bar... after that i pried the clamp open again and filed the uneven surfaces that were left behind after the welding process. definitely not for the impatient type. nitto stems are much easier to work with and seem to be made to higher standards for less money. hope this helps.